SWOSU President Biography

Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduate Randy Beutler was named the 17th president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and Sayre on February 1, 2010. Beutler had served as vice president for public policy and student leadership before the appointment.

Randy Beutler was raised on a ranch near Elk City and graduated from Canute High School in 1979. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from SWOSU in 1983, graduating Cum Laude with a social science major/minor. He completed his Master of Education degree at SWOSU in 2003 and Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Taft Law School in Santa Ana, California in 2011.

Beutler taught social science at Washita Heights Public Schools and Weatherford High School after graduating from SWOSU. He was named Weatherford Public Schools "Teacher of the Year" in both 1987 and 1990. Many of Beutler’s students participated in the National History Day competition each year under his tutelage and several won national honors for their historical research.

In 1988, Beutler was one of fifteen history instructors selected to receive a William Robertson Coe Fellowship to Stanford University. While there, he attended classes under the renowned historian, Dr. David Kennedy. The next year, Beutler was one of fifty teachers across the nation to be selected as a participant in the National Institute for High School History Teachers at Princeton University.

In 1992, Beutler was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 60. He was reelected three times without opposition and served until 2000. During his tenure, Beutler represented the counties of Roger Mills, Beckham, Greer and Harmon. He rose to the position of Majority Whip of the House and served on the leadership teams of both Speaker Glen Johnson and Speaker Loyd Benson.

While in elected office, Beutler authored legislation that funded senior nutrition sites, eliminated anti-government groups from filing false liens and legal process, reduced the expense for cities and schools to issue revenue bonds, rebuilt Quartz Mountain Lodge and Conference Center and purchased land that was the site of the Washita Massacre near Cheyenne for transfer to the National Park Service.

In 2003, Beutler was selected by newly-elected Governor Brad Henry as his legislative liaison to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In this capacity, he worked closely with members of the Legislature and helped with passage of the Oklahoma state lottery, the Tribal Gaming Act and the creation of the Insure Oklahoma program. He was promoted to director of legislative relations in 2005 and became a senior staff member of the Henry administration. In addition to his duties with Governor Henry, Beutler has served as an adjunct professor of history at SWOSU since 2002.

In 2006, SWOSU President John Hays hired Beutler to assist with external affairs, legislative matters, grant assistance and development of external funds. In this role, he was instrumental in creating the successful President's Leadership Class program at SWOSU and securing additional state and federal funds for the institution.

Beutler is a co-owner of a ranching partnership, Beutler-Redd Ranches, Limited, which operates in the Elk City area. An avid historian, Beutler has published several articles related to Oklahoma and western history.

Beutler currently serves on the Weatherford Area Economic Development Foundation Board, the Quartz Mountain Arts & Conference Center Board of Directors and Oklahoma Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson's Legislative Advisory Network. He is a member of the Weatherford Kiwanis Club and has been active in the Elk City Kiwanis Club. He has served on the Oklahoma Academy of State Goals Board of Directors and the Elk City Old Town Museum Board of Directors.